What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
clonk
Example
He accidentally clonked his head on the low ceiling. [clonk: verb]
Example
The book fell off the shelf with a loud clonk. [clonk: noun]
knock
Example
She knocked on the door to ask if anyone was home. [knocked: past tense]
Example
He accidentally knocked over the glass with his elbow. [knocked: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Knock is more commonly used than clonk in everyday language. Knock is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while clonk is less common and has a more specific usage related to heavier impacts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between clonk and knock?
While knock is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, clonk is more informal and onomatopoeic in nature, making it more appropriate for casual conversations or creative writing.
